And how does that feeling of well-being compare with today?
In spite of the Great Recession, you might have had a lot less then.
If you are old enough to remember houses were smaller 35 years ago
As much as fifty per cent smaller when you count square footage.
There was enough room, too on the highway to actually get somewhere.
And the space on your hard drive was less than a turbo stick.
What space you are in today is more about emotional space
than what you can buy with your income, dividends, and coupons.
And you have, on average, much more of those than before.
Yet, very little has changed, the experts tell us, about our happiness.
What happens is that you quickly adapt to improved situations
and peaks of satisfaction and pleasure that arise with something new.
Even bigger incomes and lottery winnings can’t maintain the emotional
high that comes with them and you are soon no happier than before.
This affect is more than a passing curiosity.
If getting more of whatever you use to keep score and feel good
is no longer able to raise your level of gratification and happiness
then why keep doing what you have always done?
The point of working longer and harder is now suspect.
Better to stop doing that and try something else.
If you don’t you might suddenly find yourself old and grey.
Perhaps too tired to keep on trucking until everything is just right.
Accept that there is no perfect moment
to get on with doing what you want.
And it’s okay to settle for ‘optimum’ conditions.
But identify these you must to move on wisely.
Wanting it all in maximum proportions
May never be enough to make you happy.
Copyright 2010 William M. MacKay
[ add comment ] ( 2 views ) | permalink |
( 3 / 47 )
Calendar
